Psychosocial and combined treatments for ADHD

Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the most common mental health disorder of childhood and results in serious impairment across a variety of domains. The only empirically validated treatments for ADHD include psychostimulant medication. behavioral treatment, and their combination. This article reviews studies of behavioral treatments for ADHD, including clinical behavioral interventions (parent training, school interventions), contingency management techniques, and intensive treatments. Behavioral treatments are shown to be effective in improving the behavior and academic performance of children with ADHD. In addition, studies of combined behavioral and pharmacological treatments for ADHD are reviewed. Limitations of each single treatment (behavioral, pharmacological) alone are described in the context of the efficacy of combining modalities. Finally, directions for future study are discussed. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.